Choosing a Holdback

[Justin Carl]

I had a question for the guys and gals out there that have bred several clutches of babies.
How do you know what babies to hold back?
Is their something to look for?
Size, color, etc?
Is it just luck?
Do you just hold back a couple and let time tell you?

 

[Dankmeleon]

i don't know the answer but my guess would be the ones that show they are ahead of the pack in size activity and coloration, alpha, dominant

 

[Justin Carl]

Agreed, but hopefully some of the breeders will have something to say on this.
Josh, Mike, Vince, etc.

 

[Chameleons Northwest]

Hope you don't mind my chiming in. We haven't had hatchlings yet, but, if I were to choose a holdback I would first look for good solid bars in the body pattern. Even before color started showing up. Then, still early on, I would look for very robust specimens. Once you got a few guys with great bar patterns and great health, then watch for color.

So, initially I would hold back buys with great patterns, and true solid bars. Then, once the color started in, I would maybe sell the ones that looked a little ho-hum, and hold on to any with exceptionally vivid or unusual coloration. If there are several that meet that criteria, then perhaps choose the best one, or maybe the largest of the best.

Of course this all depends on how much room you have to hold on to several guys for a few extra months. I don't know how you would choose a holdback if you had to make the decision in the first 2 months- except by pattern, health, and bars.

Also, keep in mind that long term breeders may be looking for a specific coloration to add variation to the animals they already have in their breeding program.

 

[Justin Carl]

Hope you don't mind my chiming in.

Nope, all opinions are appreciated.
You did bring up a couple of good points, but they are still very obvious ones.
I'm just trying to find out if their were my subtle things to look for.
I know most breeders dont let their babies go until they are about 3 months old, but how much can you tell at this age.
I know Josh is letting go one of his babies from Mr.Lemiuex(sp) at 2 months old.
That is a awesome ambilobe by the way, Josh.
Thanks
Justin

 

[CammieNLeno]

This is a great question Justin - I hope to get a good answer as well from some of the big guys.

If i had to take a stab at it, I would say that the #1 factor would most likely be one of the most obvious ones- appetite and overall food consumption. I would assume that these guys have charts and spreadsheets that measures the correct weight they should be at a certain age, given that they have had expirence selling off multiple clutches from multiple sires and such. If a certain neonate is consistently behind that, and stays behind that up to the "standard" selling age of about 3 months, perhaps it is a holdback?

I know you are looking for a more advanced answer, but really it sounds like a combination of everything we already actively monitor with these guys - feces, eyes, bone structure, etc.

Cant wait to see some more responses - my only expierence with observing a true "holdback" was when I was at Joes and one of his hatchlings was EXTREMLY underweight and just feeble - neither of us thought he was going to make it - joe.. how did that one turn out btw?

 

[Eric Adrignola]

Interestingly enough, I held back three males. one of them was very small, and I thought it was a female at first.

The tiny one, that was sorta sickly looking in size, has now caught up with the big ones, and has far better coloration. MUCH brighter colors - we'll see I'm keeping them all 15+ months, then I'll see who gets to stay!

 

[Dankmeleon]

yea i could see how that would be